Wordless Wednesday #78 - Photo Shoot (Part Two)

Photos by: One Lifetime Photography

Monday Mischief #63 - Strangers and Your Dog

I was looking at a Craigslist bike and talking with the seller about dogs. And he said, oh I think I've seen you around with your dog before and asked you about him. You don't remember me? Most people do. I replied that on a normal day, at least ten people comment on Mr. N or ask me questions about him. Mostly good things but we do get the occasional ankle biter or yappy dog comment. 

Photo: One Lifetime Photography

Pretty much every day, someone new tells him how cute he is. This is why he has such a big head. We live in an urban area so we run into a lot of people and I think people are drawn to Mr. N's puppy looks and the way he prances. Especially kids. Mr. N is a total kid magnet. I call him a walking petting zoo. 

Do you often get stopped by strangers who want to talk about your dog? 

BW Sunday #83 - Forest Park Portrait

FitDog Friday #69 - Pittock Mansion and Forest Park

If you're looking for a lovely hike within city limits, I'd recommend the Pittock Mansion hike. It can be crowded on weekends and sunny days but that's pretty much standard. Portlanders swarm outside at any hint of sun. 

Pittock Mansion was originally the private residence of The Oregonian Publisher, Henry Pittock and his wife, Georgiana but is now owned by the city. Dogs are allowed on the grounds but not inside. 

The window behind Mr. N leads to the music room. You can see the harp through the window.

The mansion is also known for its spectacular view of Portland's skyline and Mt. Hood.

Mr. N and Sage are wondering when photo time is over and hiking time begins.

We did the hike backwards because there's more parking available at the mansion than the trailhead. All the green things are blooming early in Portland due to the mild weather including the trilliums.

My phone died mid-way through the hike and we got drenched in a sudden downpour so I didn't get any photos of the Stone House which was built as a rest station as a WPA project. I'd do the hike again but in better weather!

What makes for a good hike?

Best Bully Sticks Review

I rarely buy chews in bulk because we live in a tiny condo and a bully stick will usually last Mr. N for a couple weeks. I've heard good things about Best Bully Sticks though from several people so when they asked us to review chews, I was all for it. Mr. N is always happy to review meat products. 

Best Bully Sticks sent us a 12-inch beef trachea, a six-inch trachea and a bag of six-inch bully sticks. They're sourced from free-range Brazilian cattle but they also carry USA-made bully sticks. As you can see, the large trachea is a wee bit too big for Mr. N (even though he doesn't think so) so I invited Sage over to partake. 

Mr. N quickly fell in love with his own trachea chew though. They do say that chewing relieves stress for dogs.

The dogs quickly fell into a chewing rhythm. Neither of the dogs really resource guards but we made sure to give them some distance from each other and keep an eye on them just in case.

Sage is a more exuberant chewer and quickly made inroads into her chew.

I saved the bully sticks for later as they would probably be a choking hazard for Sage. They're the perfect size for Mr. N. They do have a slight odor but they're not pungent. 

He likes to carry them around and he plays fetch with them occasionally. 

Mr. N heartily approves of the chews. Sometimes he likes to pretend he's Smaug and will chew one while lying on a pile of his other chews. We promise we are not interested in stealing them, pup!

This post was sponsored by Best Bully Sticks. They are not responsible for the contents of this article. All opinions expressed are our own. 

Which chews do your dogs like?

Monday Mischief #62 - Therapy Dog Title

Mr. N has officially received his therapy dog novice title. Dogs who are certified through an AKC-approved organization and make at least ten therapy visits can earn the title. He qualified back in January (or was it December?), but I didn't send in the paperwork for a bit and then it took a couple of weeks for the AKC to process his title. 

I'm hoping to add a CGC and possibly a nosework title this year. I don't think there will be enough lure coursing trials (CAT for the non-sighthounds) close by for him to get another title for at least enough year or two. 

Photo by: One Lifetime Photography

What goals are your dogs working toward this year?

BW Sunday #82 - Zombie Dog

Photo by: One Lifetime Photography

FitDog Friday #68 - Ponytail Falls Hike

We started off at Horsetail Falls. Mr. N was disappointed when he didn't spot any horses. This hike has two waterfalls within easy hiking distance.

A quick stop to take a photo of the dogs on a rock. Mr. N has his usual serious photo face on but Sage was more interested in watching the scenery, i.e. keep a sharp eye out for squirrels.

Ponytail Falls! Aptly named. Doesn't that moss look like a scrunchie? I tried taking a photo of Mr. N behind the falls but the results were unsatisfactory.

Mr. N prefers posing by trees and greenery than the waterfall. He hates getting wet and that's an unfortunate side effect when you're walking by falls.

We stopped by the viewpoint and admired the view. I had to convince Mr. N not to peer over the edge.

What does your dog enjoy most about hikes?

Wordless Wednesday #78 - Photo Shoot (Part One)

Photos: One Lifetime Photography

Setting your reactive dog up for success in training class

Mr. N's last training workshop was horrible. His tail hung limply down for a good portion of the workshop (we call it sad tail in our household), and  he refused to eat even his favorite things and towards the end, he bolted inside his carrier and stayed there. And he was extremely reactive towards the other dogs. 

We had a fracas with another dog there previously and I think he remembered that especially because it made me extremely stressed and he feeds off my stress.

Mr. N was not very enthused about class previously

So I was concerned about this week's workshop so I tried to put some things into action that might help him be more successful.  He was very good and aside from a little barking at the beginning when everyone came in, he settled down quickly. And his tail was up all class. These are some of the things I tried. 

• Bring your dog's "crack." Mr. N loves cheese and meat. He will not work for dry treats and vegetables and fruit even at home so at class, they wouldn't even merit a glance. So bring whatever your dog loves and will do back flips for it. I would totally bring a squirrel or a rat if I could figure out the logistics and it wouldn't be cruel to the other animal! He also loves soft, animal-shaped toys that other dogs have played with. 
• And try swapping treats. Mr. N was starting to get bored with his turkey and cheese so I borrowed some meatballs and he was all about that. 
• Give your dog something to do. We're still working on mat work but regardless, Mr. N would not sit still for the bulk of two hours anyway. So if it's not our turn to work, we practice quiet things in a corner. We do some shaping with objects, "find it" with food, targeting and run through his tricks. 
• Bring some chews or a stuffed Kong. Mr. N gets too hyped up to chew calmly but I've seen that work for some dogs.
• Watch your dog. Do you know what stress signals your dog exhibits? If I interrupt Mr. N before he goes over threshold, I can usually redirect him. 
• Watch the other dogs. Are they being rude? Is your dog reacting to their behavior? Mr. N thinks hard staring is very rude and will tell the dog off if I don't notice it first and reward him for not reacting. 
• Know your dog's limits. Take your dog out if he needs a break. I bring Mr. N's soft carrier with me so he has a place to retreat to if he is overwhelmed. 
•  Good positioning. Mr. N does best with one particular dog so I asked the instructor if we could sit next to her. Away from the doors and windows is also preferable. Less stimulation.
• Talk to the instructor. After the fracas, I talked to the instructor about my concerns and she implemented more stringent measures. We have more visual barriers in class (the dogs can still see through them but it's a visual reminder), and people were reminded about keeping their dog under control and giving other dogs space.

What steps do you take to make sure your dog is successful in class or in life? 

BW Sunday #81 - Bright-eyed and Bushy-tailed

Cannon Beach and Clatsop Loop Hike with Dogs

The dogs had fun gallivanting around Cannon Beach as usual. We took the obligatory Haystack Rock picture.

The dogs traipsed around, sniffed a great many things and found sticks. Sage thinks Mr. N should be nice and share the stick. Mr. N says finders keepers and he doesn't care if it barely fits in his mouth. 

There weren't that many dogs on the beach that day but Mr. N made a poodle friend and they chased each other around for a bit.

Now that the dogs had expended some of their energy, we left the beach to go hiking. Are we the only ones that pre-exercise the dogs before hikes? 

After cavorting on the beach (well the dogs did anyway), I wanted something sweet before our hike. The dogs waited patiently (or semi-patiently in Mr. N's case) for us to make a quick trip to the chocolate cafe.

Then off to Ecola State Park (a lot of filming for Goonies took place here). There's a five dollar entry fee. We took the Clatsop Loop Hike which starts at the Indian Beach Trailhead.

It's three miles and normally would be very doable but we were already tired from walking on the beach so there was some huffing and puffing going uphill.

We passed some bunkers from World War II.

And made a detour to the viewpoint from which you can see the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, nicknamed "Terribly Tilly" for the erratic weather conditions and dangerous commute for the workers. It's inactive and an unofficial columbarium. 

 Mr. N sat on a ginormous old growth tree stump and pondered what it would be like to be so old.

He decided he prefers to be young and beautiful.

Wordless Wednesday #77 - Where's the Beef?

Monday Mischief #60 - Smelt, Smelt Everywhere

When the dogs rushed ahead of us to the river, we were greeted with an unfamiliar sight. There were dozens and dozens of dead fish all along the shore and in the water.  Apparently, there was a good run of smelt and they had died after spawning.

I'm always wary of dead things that the dogs find because they might try to roll on it or worse, eat it. Mr. N has found dead rats, a raccoon, birds, fish and an animal of unknown origin (it was so horribly bloated in the water, we couldn't tell what it was).

I'm especially wary of fish because we have salmon poisoning disease here (it is most prevalent from Northern California to the Puget Sound). Salmon, trout and other fish can be infected with Neorickettsia helmonthoeca. If dogs eat the raw fish, it is usually fatal within two weeks unless they are treated.  

I haven't heard anything about smelt being infected or dangerous to dogs but why take the risk (edit: apparently smelt can be infected with the parasite). Mr. N gave a cursory sniff then ignored the fish. He's picky about seafood and a bit of a gourmand. 

Sage, on the other hand, really wanted those fish. She waded out into the water and was trying to put them in her mouth so Ann went and got her and put her on a leash. She still tried to get the smelt after that.

 So we turned away from the river and continued our walk elsewhere. No more walks by the river for us until the smelt are gone.

Do your dogs try to eat wild animals they find? 

BW Sunday #80 - Looking at the View

Great Places to Walk Your Reactive Dog

There are days when you meet dogs around every corner and off-leash dogs come barreling at your reactive dog and your dog is just freaking out. Sometimes your dog(s) just need a break so their Cortisol levels can settle or you're trying to train where your dog won't be overstimulated and it just isn't possible in your neighborhood.

There's the option of walking super late at night or early in the morning. However, Mr. N and I are not morning people/dogs. And I don't always feel comfortable taking Mr. N out by myself at night. So I've found some good places to walk a reactive dog during the day without running into potential triggers.

On days when I really don't feel like dealing with off-leash dogs (and their owners), I take Mr. N to a nearby university. They usually have a fair amount of maintenance and security people wandering around and I think the campus' leash law is enforced. I think I've only seen an off-leash dog there once. There are also very few dogs there to begin with. The majority of our visits, we haven't seen any. Obviously, this is not ideal for dogs who are reactive to people.

Can you spot Mr. N?

Industrial areas are also usually dog-free. It is not a very scenic walk but other dogs are scarce, not to mention the people. You just have to keep an eye out for heavier traffic and especially trucks. Sometimes those areas lack sidewalks. I haven't found that to be a huge problem here though.

Also the area around our airport rarely has dogs and not that many people.  In Portland, the airport area is mostly industrial with a few airport hotels. If your dog is not sensitive to loud noises, this is a great place for avoiding other dogs and people.

What places do you go to walk your reactive dog(s) or if you just want a little peace and quiet?

Mr. N watching the ROTC practice

Wordless Wednesday #76 - Impatient

Trachea from Best Bully Sticks. Review coming soon!